Creative Reuse—January/February 1997

"From the Inside"

When we think of materials exchange programs, we usually think of businesses, schools, or nonprofit groups finding or getting rid of materials across organizational or even state boundaries. However, exchange programs can exist internally, especially within larger organizations. Recently the CalMAX staff has been working with the City of Los Angeles to set up an in-house materials exchange program for the city's 35 departments.

While doing research, we discovered a materials exchange/reuse program already up and running within the Alameda County government. This program was the brainchild of Saul Ferdan, manager of the property and salvage section of Alameda County's general services agency.

Saul started this program over eight years ago when he began working for Alameda County. Since that time he and his crew have created an in-house recycling and reuse program that has shown us a new application for the material exchange program concept. An indicator of the success they've had is a 45 percent reuse rate of all office furniture that comes through their shop. They even found a use for old carpeting by (re)using it to help cure newly poured cement. The only material they have trouble finding an internal use for is plastic, a material for which external markets are even difficult to find.

Saul keeps in touch with the many County departments mainly through e-mail and department newsletters. For materials that are available on an ongoing basis and for which there are limited internal uses, such as pallets and cardboard, Saul uses CalMAX.

Alameda's success is an inspiration not only to us, but to other governmental agencies, like the City of Los Angeles, who realize waste reduction and reuse start at home. If you'd like additional information on starting a material exchange program, please call CalMAX at (916) 341-6603.

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Last updated: February 27, 2008